Some CBC Members Find WH Gifts for Their #TPP Votes Laughable

Summer jobs money alone isn’t going to do it. If the White House wants to mount a serious campaign to turn Black Caucus NOs into YESes on trade, it won’t happen easy. An informal poll of over 20 Black Caucus members found more hard NOs and a load of indignation at the notion that votes could be switched over one summer of temporary jobs. Several members also mentioned past trade deals that have hurt American workers.

The moment is noteworthy in the often strained relationship between the first Black President of the United States and the African American members who have served in Congress during his time in office. Differences in policy regarding HBCUs, poverty, diversity VISAs, and jobs, as well as the level of attention the White House has given to those issues has frequently been problematic.

On an important vote members are unlikely to take a political risk for a President on his way out the door who has been reluctant to spend political capital on their issues and policy requests over six years.

“Take off your bedroom slippers, put on your marching shoes. Shake it off. Stop complaining, stop grumbling, stop crying,” the President told Black Caucus members and their guests at the Congressional Black Caucus Gala in September 2011 as the Black unemployment rate was 16.7% — a 28 year high.Since that moment, the relationship has improved.But it has not been forgotten.

“I just saw one of the White House liaisons and he asked ‘is there any movement’ and I said I’m glad you asked. He said they were thinking seriously about adding summer jobs. I know it’s the first time they are reaching out but some of the things they’re offering are just insulting,” said Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) yesterday on the White House offers.

At yesterday’s (May 20) weekly meeting of the Black Caucus, Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), a frequent carrier of the White House’s water who voted against NAFTA, presented the President’s first offers. He also pointed to Rangel as someone who may be able to win Black Caucus votes on trade. Rangel didn’t reveal how he would vote on fast track or the trade bill but he did say he thought the trade deal would eventually pass.

“That’s bullsh*t,” one member responded when asked if summer jobs money, or a deal on the cadillac tax was enough to win their vote. That response was not atypical. Several members expressed skepticism that the White House could find the money to even pull off such gifts. The fact that the President agreed to end earmarks in 2011 also came up as another issue that has added grit to the legislative gears. Members do expect that the White House will add something to the mix that would be helpful to big labor.

Several Black Caucus members were turned off by the idea that suddenly — because of the trade deal — the White House found a way to pay for summer jobs after six years of being told there was no money and it wasn’t possible. Though rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL), a hard NO vote on the trade bill, said “around here, where there is a will there’s a way.”

The Obama Administration instead responded with a “private public” partnership idea involving the Urban League before the summer of 2011. But there was no multi-million dollar summer jobs initiative the type of which members were asking the White House for year after year.

Out of 43 voting members in the House, Reps. Greg Meeks (D-NY) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) are so far the only members of the Black Caucus who say they will support the President’s trade deal. Reps. Terri Sewell (D-AL) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) say they haven’t decided. Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA) who has taken a few unexpected votes, said he was “leaning NO,” yesterday.

Rep. David Scott (D-GA), a blue dog, who can sometimes vote pro-corporation, is also a hard NO. CBC Chair G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), who along with Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA) and Rep. David Scott are perhaps the most “conservative” members of the Black Caucus Democrats, have either said they are leaning NO or voting NO.

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About the Author

lauren victoria burke

Lauren Victoria Burke is a writer, comms strategist and political analyst. She created Crewof42 in 2009. The blog focuses on African American members of Congress and Black political power regardless of party. Ms. Burke also writes for NBC BLK, The Root, NNPA and is the Managing Editor of Politic365. As part of a diverse career in politics and media, she has also served as a congressional staffer for the U.S. Senate Democratic Policy Committee, Communications Director for U.S. Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN) and Director of Communications for Justin Fairfax of Lt. Governor of Virginia. She appears each Monday on weekly on NewsOneNow with Roland Martin on TVOne. Ms. Burke holds a B.A. in History from The American University. Email: LBurke007@gmail.com. Twitter: @LVBurke.